Tran Bich San
Encyclopedia
Trần Bích San is a famous Vietnamese writer, philosopher, and intellectual.
region of Vietnam
. His mother owned a bookstore, and his father was chief of the district and later became an administrator. In 1966, Tran married Nguyen Yen Mai, a student of the Marie Curie School in Saigon. They had a son, Tran Quoc Quan, and later divorced in 1971.
After his graduation from the Thu Duc Academy (1969), Tran joined the South Vietnamese army and became the Chief of Press in the 5th Infantry Division. He quickly moved up in the ranks, becoming the Chief of Administrative Security, Press, and Information Ministry.
During his time in the military, Tran was known for writing many hard hitting articles criticizing the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese government. He also worked in a special unit interrogating captured Viet Cong soldiers.
. He was temporarily moved to Fort Chaffee
, Arkansas
for six months and soon found sponsorship with a Lutheran church in Arlington County, Virginia
. He worked for six months as a dishwasher for Episcopal High School (Alexandria). On July 4, 1976, Tran entered his second marriage with a fellow refugee, Loan Kim Ta. They met at a party in Washington, D.C. for Vietnamese refugees. Ta was a law student at Bovie Community College and the former Miss Saigon (1972).
The couple had three daughters and divorced in 2005, following Hurricane Katrina
.
. He later received a Master's in Healthcare Administration from Tulane University
(1995) and his Ph.D. from Weybridge University (2006).
Tran and his wife moved to New Orleans, Louisiana
in June 1979 after he was offered an entry level job at Touro Infirmary
, a private Jewish hospital. He was promoted to Senior Engineer (1982), and eventually headed up the department as the Director of Biomedial Engineering (1990).
In 1995, Tran Bich San became the editor of the Little Saigon News of New Orleans, a bilingual newspaper for Vietnamese Americans. While in New Orleans, he also authored hundreds of articles on Vietnamese culture and literature. His work has been featured in Vietnamese magazines such as Có Thóm (Washington, D.C.
), Tan Van, (California
), and Ngày Mới, (Paris, France). Tran is the co-founder of the Vietnamese political activist website Viet Thuc.org.
He is considered a strong political force, representing the voice of the Little Saigon region of New Orleans. Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu
and former New Orleans' mayor Marc Morial
both utilized Tran during their elections to secure support in the Asian community.
Tran adopted the pen name "Tran Bich San" after his great, great grandfather who was the top honor graduate of the national exam in 1865 and a famous 19th century poet in Vietnamese literature. He chose the name to continue his ancestor's unfinished work in literature and honor the last official Vietnamese scholar of the 19th century.
Early life
Tran was born Trần Gia Thái in the village of Sung Van in the Nam DinhNam Dinh
Nam Định is a big city in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. It is the capital of Nam Dinh Province and capital of the South of Red River Delta. Nam Dinh province was, at one time, part of Ha Nam Ninh province until it was split up again in 1996 to return to being two separate provinces,...
region of Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. His mother owned a bookstore, and his father was chief of the district and later became an administrator. In 1966, Tran married Nguyen Yen Mai, a student of the Marie Curie School in Saigon. They had a son, Tran Quoc Quan, and later divorced in 1971.
After his graduation from the Thu Duc Academy (1969), Tran joined the South Vietnamese army and became the Chief of Press in the 5th Infantry Division. He quickly moved up in the ranks, becoming the Chief of Administrative Security, Press, and Information Ministry.
During his time in the military, Tran was known for writing many hard hitting articles criticizing the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese government. He also worked in a special unit interrogating captured Viet Cong soldiers.
Post-Vietnam
Tran emigrated to the U.S. territory of Guam following the Fall of SaigonFall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
. He was temporarily moved to Fort Chaffee
Fort Chaffee
Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center is in the northwest Arkansas region adjacent to the city of Fort Smith, located one mile southeast of Fort Smith Regional Airport. The Arkansas River flows eastward along the northern border of the post. Interstate 40 is five miles to the north on the...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
for six months and soon found sponsorship with a Lutheran church in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
. He worked for six months as a dishwasher for Episcopal High School (Alexandria). On July 4, 1976, Tran entered his second marriage with a fellow refugee, Loan Kim Ta. They met at a party in Washington, D.C. for Vietnamese refugees. Ta was a law student at Bovie Community College and the former Miss Saigon (1972).
The couple had three daughters and divorced in 2005, following Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
Professional career
Tran decided to go back to school and in 1979, he received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. He later received a Master's in Healthcare Administration from Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
(1995) and his Ph.D. from Weybridge University (2006).
Tran and his wife moved to New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in June 1979 after he was offered an entry level job at Touro Infirmary
Touro Infirmary
Touro Infirmary is a non-profit hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana.- Organization. :Touro Infirmary is affiliated with the Louisiana State University Health Science Center and Tulane University School of Medicine....
, a private Jewish hospital. He was promoted to Senior Engineer (1982), and eventually headed up the department as the Director of Biomedial Engineering (1990).
In 1995, Tran Bich San became the editor of the Little Saigon News of New Orleans, a bilingual newspaper for Vietnamese Americans. While in New Orleans, he also authored hundreds of articles on Vietnamese culture and literature. His work has been featured in Vietnamese magazines such as Có Thóm (Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
), Tan Van, (California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
), and Ngày Mới, (Paris, France). Tran is the co-founder of the Vietnamese political activist website Viet Thuc.org.
He is considered a strong political force, representing the voice of the Little Saigon region of New Orleans. Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
and former New Orleans' mayor Marc Morial
Marc Morial
Marc Haydel Morial is an American political and civic leader and the current president of the National Urban League. Morial served as mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana from 1994 to 2002. He is married to Michelle Miller, who has won awards as a CBS News Correspondent.- Early life and educations...
both utilized Tran during their elections to secure support in the Asian community.
Tran adopted the pen name "Tran Bich San" after his great, great grandfather who was the top honor graduate of the national exam in 1865 and a famous 19th century poet in Vietnamese literature. He chose the name to continue his ancestor's unfinished work in literature and honor the last official Vietnamese scholar of the 19th century.
Books
- Van Khao (2000) ISSN 1089-027
- Giai Thoai Van Chuong (2006)
- Nao Nuc Hoi Trang Ram (2007)
External links
- Có Thóm Magazine Online
- Dang Van Nham Interview with Tran Bich San (Vietnamese)
- Viet Thuc Online (Vietnamese)